Hotel Industry News

PhocusWire's in-depth coverage of the hotel sector, featuring news, analysis, interviews, research and more on B&Bs, hotels, guesthouses and other property types.

The hotel sector is undergoing significant transformation, powered by new technologies, evolving guest expectations, and a renewed focus on direct booking and operational efficiency. PhocusWire delivers the latest hotel industry news, covering the strategies and innovations shaping the future of global hospitality.

Hotel chain developments, hospitality trends, and market shifts

Stay updated on how hotel brands are expanding, restructuring, and embracing digital platforms to elevate the guest experience. From contactless check-in and AI-powered pricing to loyalty evolution and branded residential offerings, our coverage tracks the industry’s response to changing demand and competitive pressure.

Trip.com Group increases Q1 revenue, inbound travel bookings surge 100%
News / Online
Trip.com Group increases Q1 revenue, inbound travel bookings surge 100%
By Linda Fox | May 20, 2025
Trip.com Group said South Korea, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia are some of the fastest growing source markets as it reported Q1 2025 earnings.  Read More
Travel’s persistent cybersecurity problem, and why it could get worse
News / Online
Travel’s persistent cybersecurity problem, and why it could get worse
By Matthew Parsons | May 20, 2025
Rapid advances in travel technology and distribution are emboldening hackers and leading to more sophisticated attacks. Read More
Experiences can increase hotel RevPAR by 55%
News / Distribution
Experiences can increase hotel RevPAR by 55%
By Abby Crotty | May 19, 2025
Turneo, an e-commerce platform for hotels, evaluated publicly available data from 136,000 hotels worldwide. Read More
Startup Stage: VanityPass aims to redesign loyalty rewards for younger travelers
Interview / Startups
Startup Stage: VanityPass aims to redesign loyalty rewards for younger travelers
By Morgan Hines | May 19, 2025
VanityPass is working to revolutionize the travel perks that often come as part of a credit card loyalty program. Read More
Prosus completes acquisition of Despegar
News / Online
Prosus completes acquisition of Despegar
By Linda Fox | May 16, 2025
Terms of the deal include a subsidiary of Prosus merging with Despegar with the Latin America-based OTA become a private company and delisting from the New York Stock Exchange. Read More
Meet the 19 finalists of the 2025 Global Startup Pitch
News / Startups
Meet the 19 finalists of the 2025 Global Startup Pitch
By PhocusWire | May 16, 2025
Winners for each region will be chosen at Phocuswright Europe and then travel to WiT Singapore to pitch their companies to the audience there. Read More
PhocusWire's weekly travel tech news briefs: TourRadar, Spotnana, Mews and more...
News / Technology
PhocusWire's weekly travel tech news briefs: TourRadar, Spotnana, Mews and more...
By PhocusWire | May 16, 2025
Keep up with all the latest people, partner and product news from around the global travel industry. Read More
Real time availability, pricing in AI will change hospitality distribution: Are you ready?
Opinion / Technology
Real time availability, pricing in AI will change hospitality distribution: Are you ready?
By Pablo Delgado - Mirai | May 16, 2025
ARI, or availability, rates, inventory, could radically change the hotel booking process with real-time pricing. Read More
Harnessing the power of AI: What it means for tourism and hospitality
Event / Technology
Harnessing the power of AI: What it means for tourism and hospitality
May 15, 2025
Join Miles Partnership, PhocusWire and Phocuswright to hear some of the latest and most compelling applications of AI in the travel and tourism industry. On Demand
HBX Group acquires Civitfun to help hotels digitalize operations
News / Technology
HBX Group acquires Civitfun to help hotels digitalize operations
By Linda Fox | May 15, 2025
The companies plan to develop technology such as contactless check-in and check-out to enhance the guest experience, optimize operations and open up new revenue streams for hotels. Read More
MakeMyTrip reports record gross bookings and revenue for 2025
News / Online
MakeMyTrip reports record gross bookings and revenue for 2025
By Linda Fox | May 14, 2025
The Gurugram, India-based OTA reported double-digit increases in air, hotel and packages, as well as bus ticketing revenue in fiscal Q4 of 2025. Read More
Game On: The Phocuswright Conference 2025
News / Online
Game On: The Phocuswright Conference 2025
By Phocuswright | May 14, 2025
This year's Phocuswright Conference theme is "Game On," speaking to the changing playbook in the travel industry. Read More
Airbnb adds catering, massages, personal training and more in new 'Services' business
News / Technology
Airbnb adds catering, massages, personal training and more in new 'Services' business
By Morgan Hines | May 13, 2025
The refreshed and new Airbnb categories come after the company said in February that it would spend up to $250 million on new lines of business in 2025. Read More
Is technology helping hotels think beyond room revenue?
News / Technology
Is technology helping hotels think beyond room revenue?
By Linda Fox | May 13, 2025
Hotels are exploring concepts such revenue per available guest in a bid to offer more services, generate additional revenue and tap into the consumer desire for experiences. Read More
Fragmentation, regulation, acceleration: The new short-term rental playbook
News / Online
Fragmentation, regulation, acceleration: The new short-term rental playbook
By Phocuswright Research | May 12, 2025
While growth is expected to moderate to single digits in 2025, the short-term rental sector remains a structurally significant force in global lodging. Read More
The Phocuswright Conference 2026